As a dedicated organization of educators, IUSD has a deep appreciation and understanding that life is full of complex emotions and experiences, especially for children and adolescents. Throughout daily work, we seek to ensure that parents and students are well-informed about accessing crucial resources for students’ mental health and their social and emotional wellness.
We know that by embracing a positive or optimistic mindset students can better manage those challenges in a productive way. The neuroscience and data behind this approach reaffirms that students, who possess hope and optimism and embrace mistakes as part of the learning process, succeed at higher levels both academically and personally.
With this critical data in hand, IUSD has tailored its comprehensive approach to mental health and wellness to focus on both proactive and responsive programs, initiatives and supports for students. Through our work, we strive to help students cultivate the skills necessary to meet academic and personal challenges with perseverance, resilience and adaptability, while in times of adversity helping students to seek and access supports and services.
- A good place to start is by connecting with your school’s psychologist, elementary resource counselor, counselor, mental health specialist, teacher or other trusted adult. They can help provide information, guidance and resources that are specific to your child.
- Visit our Mental Health and Counseling webpages at iusd.org/Prevention and iusd.org/Counseling. Both sites include a variety of resources and supports, including links to:
- The Irvine Family Resource Center, which offers mental health services for students and families
- Care Solace is a free and confidential service that connects families with outside mental health resources
- The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System enables students to seek help for themselves or their friends
- Staff directories that provide contacts by school
- Links to crisis and suicide prevention helplines and services, including texting or calling 988 for crisis support
- Links to IUSD’s Irvine Parent Education Program which offers a range of workshops and resources for parents throughout the school year
- Community resources and support links
- Academic counseling and tutoring resources offer resources to help students succeed and can help reduce academic stress
- College and career readiness resources offer students a deeper understanding of college, career and life readiness options and possible pathways.
We want our students and families to know that you are not alone, your voice matters and we are here to help because we care, so please reach out when needed.